News

NEW LONDON—Construction and development of the Glacial Lakes Trail and it’s 6.5 mile extension from New London into Sibley State Park continues to progress as scheduled with several key milestones recently reached.
Last week construction crews installed a box culvert (a concrete tunnel) at the intersection of Highway 71 and County Road 40, which will allow those using the trail to pass safely beneath the roadway rather than risk crossing the heavily trafficked roadway.
The tunnel runs diagonally

WILLMAR—Homes located on the northside of downtown Willmar and businesses within the downtown business district will soon be able to apply for no-interest, deferred loans for eligible rehabilitation projects.
The city’s application for a Small Cities block grant of $1,205,177 was approved earlier this summer by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
“This project is for assisting homeowners and business in the downtown area on district heat, to help them with

Lake Lillian has an estimated population of 235 people, according to the United States Census Bureau. With 13 area businesses, a main street approximately half a mile long, and the nearest school almost 13 miles away, Lake Lillian is the very definition of a small town.
But starting Sunday, this small town is hosting a full production of “Mary Poppins,” which is expected to draw around 100 people for each show at the former Lake Lillian school.
Director Corinne Hable said, “This

NEW LONDON—A $7.8 million project to build a hotel, event center, restaurant, bar and pro shop on the grounds of the Little Crow Country Club is nearing completion.
The project began last fall with the demolition of an existing facility that housed a bar, restaurant and pro shop at the golf course, located near New London.
Hampered by inclement weather that delayed the initial expected completion date of mid-May, segments of the project are now done and open to the public and the rest—including

WILLMAR—It has been just over a year since the Willmar Destination Playground at Robbins Island Regional Park opened to the cheers of delight from adults and children alike. It is as popular today as it was on its grand opening weekend, with people coming from near and far to spend a few hours at the fully accessible, 19,000-square-foot playground.
“The use is probably more than I anticipated,” Gary Mazner, Willmar Public Works superintendent said. “You see bus loads out there

NEW LONDON—In fulfilling her dream of displaying her work in a New York City art exhibit, New Londonite Marjorie Nilssen will give the Big Apple a taste of the Lakes Area arts community this summer as she heads to Manhattan with her latest series of abstract paintings.
On August 2, Nilssen is scheduled to present her one-day “pop-up” show at the Rogue Space gallery in the city’s Chelsea District—a miniature Mecca for established and upcoming artists alike.
As both a professor of art at

WILLMAR—When he looks at the herd of 100 Angus cows and their frisky spring calves grazing in a pasture of belly-high grass, Cullen Fischer still can’t believe his lifelong dream of raising cattle is coming true.
“It’s kind of a pinch-me thing,” said the 31-year-old from Lake Lillian about his good fortune of taking over ownership of the well-established cow-calf operation from a retired farmer he met just a few years ago—a man who will continue to be his mentor.
“I

WILLMAR—Craig Johnson feels his blue collar, first-generation college student background will inform his work as the new president at Ridgewater College.
Johnson, 62, joined the college July 1. He came from the University Center in Sioux Falls, where he was director.
Johnson said his first few weeks have involved finding his way around the school’s campuses in Willmar and Hutchinson. He admitted he still gets lost occasionally on the larger Willmar campus.
He’s met people at both campuses

WILLMAR—The voters of Willmar will now have the opportunity to approve or reject a local option sales tax which could raise $30 million for a host of projects across the city.
At Monday’s meeting, the Willmar City Council approved a resolution to place the question on the Nov. 6 ballot.
“We are a regional center and this really speaks to what we want for our future,” Councilor Audrey Nelsen said.
The council vote was 7 to 0, with Councilor Ron Christianson abstaining. He said